The head of the Socialist group of MEPs has pledged support for attempts to retain Northern Ireland's Objective One status for EU funding, despite moves by the European Parliament to downgrade the North's status.
Speaking in Derry, Ms Pauline Green said that there was "overwhelming support" in Europe for the continuation of the peace process. It would be "unthinkable" to support the process but allow funds for the region to be reduced. "I don't think that will happen, but there is a redefinition of the different objective criteria going on at the moment. What we have to do is make sure that, if they are not going to call it Objective One, there is a very clear ring-fenced element for Northern Ireland."
Like Northern Ireland, the Basque region was trying to find a peace process, and she believed that the EU should help both regions. "I think these are two areas where we have a special responsibility. The European Union is, if anything, a model of conflict-resolution. Let us support the two areas trying to come out of conflict into peace. I hope we can move in that direction."
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, told the meeting that the North had not benefited fully from its Objective One status.
"The case that I have been putting is that we have not been able to take full advantage of Objection One . . . That is true particularly in the field of inward investment and in tackling our problems of unemployment. Because of the Troubles, it was difficult to attract industry to come here, but now that we have peace I would ask for a further period of Objective One in which we can use the peace situation to attract inward investment", Mr Hume said.
"If it is politically difficult for them to call it Objective One, then they can give us exactly the same, but under some other name. I would be quite happy with that as long as we get continuing assistance to help us to build our future together."